42,636 people died in the US in road fatalities in 2004

[Polemonium]

http://gulliver.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=5404

Ever think our priorities are in the wrong place? The culture of American fear fascinates me. Almost none of us are afraid to drive, yet I know several people who are afraid to fly since 9/11.

The UCR Program’s homicide data for 2004 showed that for the first time in 4 years, the estimated number of murders in the United States decreased. An estimated 16,137 persons were murdered nationwide, a decline of 2.4 percent from the 2003 figure.
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_04/offenses_reported/violent_crime/murder.html

No one I know runs around afraid they are going to be murdered, yet plenty of people have tangible fear of "terrorism". None of the many people detained for "terrorism" have been successfully tried and found guilty, but fear keeps em locked up.

Advertisers use our fear to sell us crap we don't need (psssst your ugly without this), media appeals to our fear to sell more "what if" stories, and politicians are discovering there are lots of votes in a fearful public. Meanwhile car and gun manufacturers can't sell if you're afraid of their product.

Hey I'm sure it's not that simple -- no really I'm sure....

At the end of the day all the political winds of words will mean little unless we all as Americans brush off our irrational fears.

[mikeytherat]

1. We have 25,000 die each year from the flu; 50,000 in a bad year

Ever heard of a War on Influenza? How many people could be saved if could just get them hydrated? Vouchers for GatorAde?

mikey_the_rat

[Polemonium]

4. So many ways to go, 435,000 from tobacco -- now I'm scared

http://www.drugwarfacts.org/causes.htm

:scared: :scared: :scared:

of coarse I'm most scared of terrorists as I should be.....

[Zynx]

5. 30,000 suicides?! Holy shit! I had no idea it was that high.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. I think of death by car every time

my husband and I drive the blind curves leading to my subdivision. We have a lot of teenagers in the area that cross the line and pass on curves and there are huge, deadly oaks along the side. And little crosses every few miles.

It is one of the reasons we drive a large car. My son is a paramedic and won't drive a small car because of what he sees in the field.

[Zynx]

6. That sounds very similar to my subdivision.

We've never had a fatal accident at this one dangerous point, but there have been close calls in the past. The only fatal driving accident in our subdivision I believe was when there was this guy who had his girlfriend with him and he was drunk and stoned off his ass and drove all over the road and eventually flipped the car at a high speed and killed her.

[tanyev]

3. 9/11 had nothing to do with my fear of flying.

I've been uneasy of flying long before then. And I know, statistically, that it is safer, but I hate it that I have no control in the decision making. Driving? If I'm uncomfortable with the weather conditions, I can pull off the road or just decide not to go. Unfortunately (IMO), the airplane pilot feels no need to consult with me on these issues. :)

[TallahasseeGrannie]

9. I'm with you on that

I guess I am claustrophic, but only in things that fly 1000's of feet in the air! That, and I get airsick.

Today's headlines about that jet skidding off the runway and hitting cars on the highway fed into my big fear. I used to drive along the Jersey Turnpike by Newark alot and those planes are huge when you are in a car.

[Benhurst]

7. Oh, well. Life is

cheap in BushAmerica. :shrug:

[Mr.Green93]

8. Many would have lived had they been wearing helmets.

It is past time to begin requiring the use of helmets in cars.